Calcium, Total, Serum

Calcium, Total, Serum

Epic Mnemonic
Sunquest Mnemonic

LAB53
CA

Category

Chemistry

Methodology

5 - Nitro - 5" - Methyl - BAPTA (NM BAPTA)

Test Performance Schedule

Sunday - Saturday

Result Availability

Within 24 hours – STAT upon request

Container

Gold top (SST), Red top (serum), or Green top (lithium heparin) tube

Volume

Pref. Vol.: 1.0 mL serum
Min. Vol.:0.2 mL serum

Collection Instructions

• Routine venipuncture

• Immediately after collection, gently invert tube 5-10 times

• Clot 30 minutes

• Promptly centrifuge
• If no gel barrier is present immediately transfer serum or plasma to a plastic tube and refrigerate

• Properly centrifuged gel barrier tube does not require transfer of serum or plasma to separate tube

Transportation Instructions

Refrigerated

Stability

• Room Temperature: 5 Days

• Refrigerated: 5 Days

Causes for Rejection

• Samples collected in a Purple top (EDTA) tube
• Hemolysis

CPT Codes

82310

Effective/Revised

03/22/2017

Calcium is the most abundant mineral element in the body with about 99 percent in the bones primarily as hydroxyapatite. The remaining calcium is distributed between the various tissues and the extracellular fluids where it performs a vital role for many life sustaining processes. Among the extra skeletal functions of calcium are involvement in blood coagulation, neuromuscular conduction, excitability of skeletal and cardiac muscle, enzyme activation, and the preservation of cell membrane integrity and permeability.

Serum calcium levels and hence the body content are controlled by parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin, and vitamin D. An imbalance in any of these modulators leads to alterations of the body and serum calcium levels. Increases in serum PTH or vitamin D are usually associated with hypercalcemia. Increased serum calcium levels may also be observed in multiple myeloma and other neoplastic diseases. Hypocalcemia may be observed e.g. in hypoparathyroidism, nephrosis, and pancreatitis.